Outreach
Tropical Turtle Group outreach activities aim to maximize the impact of our research and conservation projects locally and nationally. We create, implement and evaluate environmental education programs and materials. Below you will find some of our selected projects categorized by age group.
Primary schools:
Spot the weed game - A basic computer game created in partnership with Environs Kimberley. This game aims to raise awareness among children about the most common invasive plant species in Broome. CLICK HERE to download the game
Secondary schools:
Piku Warriors Program - We work in partnership with the Kikori Secondary School (Papua New Guinea) to develop extracurricular activities for students interested in take action to protect their wildlife. Students participate in a wide range of activities from monitoring wildlife meat consumption in their villages to creating their own radio program. We are currently developing a phone app game that will be used by students to monitor their fisheries resources in local markets. This project started in 2008 and it has being sponsored by OilSearch and Exxon Mobil LNG-PNG. Go to BOOKS to download the Kikori students Piku on Radio book and mp3 files.
Tertiary education:
360 Bush Virtual Excursion - Developed in partnership with Dan Hartney (Innovative Media Production Studio at CDU). This project received a Finalist award for Best eLearning Design (Interactive Scenario) on the 2015 LearnX Impact Awards.
This interactive scenario online tool was designed to “bring to life” the savannas of northern Australia, in order to enable external students, to experience and understand the methods used during field work. It is a means to bridge the gap between internal and external students, and to assist internal students preparing for field work.
Through the virtual scenario, students learn how to measure canopy and grass cover, which otherwise may potentially be too abstract if only looking at a video or a written description. Students are also able to identify some of the most common trees around the Darwin region. Furthermore, the virtual tool allows them to see the entire tree and also zoom in to see bark and leaf details, and in some cases even the flowers.
Click on the 3 images on the left to explore our 3 different 360 Virtual Scenarios!
Teachers workshops:
In our research locations, we offer school teacher workshops to promote local capacity building on environmental education. During our workshops, teachers provide feedback on our school materials and discuss the best approach to engage students. Go to BOOKS to download our environmental education children's books created in partnership with primary school teachers from Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste.
Photos (Left and Below): Teachers workshops at Lake Kutubu (PNG) delivered in partnership with Piku Biodiversity Network in 2017.
Events:
Our team also promotes environmental awareness during local community events. Our itinerant both delivers information on wildlife conservation and promote awareness about our project activities. We also offer environmental education games to engage local children and deliver messages on natural resources management.
Photos (Left and Below): The Piku Project booth and its educational games during 2018 World Environmentl Day, Port Moresby Nature Park (Papua New Guinea). The Piku Project is a partnership with Piku Biodiversity Network.
Our children's book "Monty and the Lake Kutubu Invasion" at the 2017 Kutubu Kundu Digaso Festival, Papua New Guinea
2020 Inpired NT Science Week Grants
Courses